Chapter Twelve: People and Events in College

  Looking at this slogan, Lu Zhong could only sigh deeply.

  On the table, four dishes were quickly served: sautéed potato shreds, vinegar-braised cabbage, stir-fried celery with meat, and tomato scrambled eggs. The large plates used to serve these dishes seemed a bit exaggerated, but they should be enough for Lu Zhen and the others to eat their fill.

  Before coming, the old dormitory Meng Xianwei said that he would settle the bill today, and asked his brothers to have a good time, also to entertain his old friend Bi Xiaoguang who had not seen each other for many years.

  Bi Xiao Guang's family conditions were not good. He originally wanted to say that he would treat everyone, but after calculating his own pocket money, he swallowed back those words.

  At the dinner table, Meng Xiangwei was also a big brother figure, taking care of everything comprehensively. However, Lu Zhenguo could see that Meng Xiangwei was very protective of Tian ShaoHua and subtly criticized Bi Xiaoguang for his bad habits of putting clothes randomly and not paying attention to personal hygiene.

  Bi Xiaoguang felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart. To be honest, Meng Xianwei and Tian Shaohua were the same kind of people. Usually in the dormitory, Meng Xianwei would often lean towards Tian Shaohua on many things.

  Nothing much before, but today with Lu Zhen this many years of good friend, Meng Xianwei still that tone of big brother, subtle hints in his words, seeing Lu Zhen's expression slightly unnatural, Bi Xiaoguang also knew Lu Zhen could understand, so he felt even more depressed, after all, who doesn't want to save face in front of a childhood friend.

  Originally, Bi Xiaoguang had enough money to invite Lu Zhong alone, but Meng Xianwei insisted on organizing a dormitory-wide dinner. Bi Xiaoguang didn't have much status in the dormitory and usually listened to Meng Xianwei's words as an elder brother. Before, he thought Meng Xianwei was always reasonable and likable, but today, for the first time, he felt a bit stifled and vaguely sensed that he had been too naive in the past.

  Bi Xiaoguang and his friends were studying social news, graduating next summer. When eating and chatting, they inevitably talked about the domestic and international situation and political situation. Now, if students at Peking University don't discuss politics, it's abnormal.

  Lu Zhong just smiled and listened, without expressing any opinion.

  When Bi Xiaoguang and Tian Shaohua started arguing again, Meng Xianwei smiled at Lu Zhong and said: "Don't you feel suffocated? We are just bookworms with useless knowledge." In his mind, a junior high school graduate from the countryside who became a public security officer, how could he possibly understand what they were discussing? Could he understand the impact of Brunei's independence from Britain and joining ASEAN on China at the beginning of this year? Could he understand the impact of Apple's new generation computer on the world? Could he understand what it means for the Soviet Union to boycott the Los Angeles Olympics? Obviously, that was impossible.

  Lu Zhong could hear Meng Xianwei's condescending attitude inadvertently revealed, but he just smiled and said, "You guys talk among yourselves."

  Bi Xiaoguang and Tian Shao-hua's debate grew louder, with the topic of their argument stemming from a State Council document issued on May 10th to further increase the autonomy of state-owned enterprises. Tian Shao-hua believed that the country was moving too slowly, and that loss-making state-owned enterprises should all adopt a contract system, which would be the only way to turn losses into profits and fully unleash the initiative and enthusiasm of enterprise workers.

  Bi Xiaoguang believes that if the examination system is not sound, a fully contracted state-owned enterprise will be fully loss-making. It cannot be assumed that every contractor is of high integrity and moral character, nor can it be expected that their morals are much higher than those of ordinary people. If constraints are not imposed at the institutional level, these contractors will only falsely report accounts, deplete the country's large treasury, and fill their own small treasuries.

  Lu Zhong listened to this debate, his eyes lit up, and he glanced at Bi Xiaoguang, but didn't think that his good friend actually had his own set of ideas.

  Tian Shaohua obviously lost the debate to Bi Xiaoguang, and finally sneered: "Old Three, you should go to the State Council, this lesson should be taught to Ma Shengli." Ma Shengli contracted a paper mill in a provincial capital city in northern China this spring, known as China's first contractor, and was widely reported by central media. Some provinces even launched a movement of "Learning from Comrade Ma Shengli".

  Bi Xiaoguang said discontentedly: "My ideal is to be a journalist, and also the director of a state-owned factory. Not everyone can be Ma Shengli, besides, Ma Shengli is not a savior."

  Meng Xianwei frowned and said: "Alright, Old Three, that's enough. Ma Shengli is a role model of our time. Are you slandering him?"

  Meng Xianwei intervened again when Tian Shaohua was defeated, and Bi Xiaoguang felt suffocated in his heart, muttering: "It's always been the case, this world has never had a savior."

  Meng Xianwei pushed the rice with his chopsticks and said in a low voice, "No one says that Ma Shengli is a savior, but our productivity has been shackled for so many years. To achieve a great liberation, to awaken the majority of people, we cannot be afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, nor can we be afraid of making mistakes. We can only use fierce reforms to stir up this stagnant water, otherwise, nothing can be done. The problems you mentioned can be solved slowly, feeling the stones while crossing the river, right?"

  Meng Xianwei is not only more eloquent than Tian Shouhua, but also better at using the arguments of big figures to make himself invincible.

  Bi Xiaoguang's mouth moved, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to refute.

  At this time, Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Actually, it can't be said that way. When crossing the river by feeling for stones, you have to look around and see how others are crossing faster and safer. You have to learn from good experiences, feel the stones that others have felt, and you can't just say that I'm crossing the river by feeling for stones, so I can make mistakes with a clear conscience?"

  Lu Zhong's words left all six college students stunned, Meng Xianwei's face changed as he looked at Lu Zhong, thinking to himself "Do you really understand what we're discussing?" But Lu Zhong's words made it difficult for him to refute.

  Bai Xiaoguang pulled at Lu Zhong's sleeve and said, "Don't spout nonsense." Under the table, however, he secretly gave Lu Zhong a thumbs up. Then Bai Xiaoguang turned to Meng Xianwei and said, "Boss, I'll take care of this meal instead." He really didn't want to eat for free this time.

  Meng Xianwei's eyes flickered and he nodded slowly, saying: "Do as you like."

  Then, at the dinner table, it gradually fell silent, and everyone started eating with their heads down, saying nothing.

  Suddenly, the dormitory's old six, Lian Zhi-jun, who was stuffing a bun into his mouth, let out a "hmm" and immediately lowered his head. His hands, however, rose up, pointing outside with excitement and mystery, saying in a hushed tone: "Look, look who's here! You guys see, is that Cui Dan?"

  Outside the small restaurant, three or four young women dressed as students walked over, and although they were walking together, it was easy to see that the pretty girl with a ponytail in the middle was their leader, whose status was similar to Meng Xianwei, the eldest of Bi Xiaoguang's dormitory.

  Different from the others, among classmates, a clearly pretty young woman has a higher status, and the female classmates around her are like stars surrounding the moon. Even when talking to her, they seem somewhat constrained.

  Bi Xiaoguang turned his head and saw that the pretty girl was looking over at him, her face immediately turning red.

  Cui Dan, is the school flower of Peking University's School of Social Sciences. She has a mysterious background and is rumored to be a "red princess". She is known for being arrogant and unapproachable. Male students in the journalism department consider it an honor to exchange even one sentence with her, but usually end up being intimidated by her haughty demeanor.

  Cui Dan is also Bi Xiaoguang's goddess and dream lover, of course, Bi Xiaoguang can only think about it in his dreams, normally, he doesn't dare to say a word to her.

  Meng Xianwei also saw Cui Dan, and his eyes changed. Although he was very confident in himself, and always appeared calm and unruffled in front of his classmates, as if nothing could faze him. As a class cadre, student union member, and active participant in various activities, he had some popularity and reputation at Beida. However, coming from an ordinary working-class family, he had a natural yearning for power and prestige. He also wanted to get close to Cui Dan, not that he dared to think of pursuing her, but if he could become friends with her, it would be greatly beneficial to his future.

  However, he didn't dare to take any action because he knew that others might think he was elegant and extraordinary. But in Cui Dan's eyes, he was probably nothing. He didn't dare to initiate a conversation with Cui Dan because he could anticipate the embarrassment and ridicule he would face.

  But today, Meng Xianwei was surprised to see Cui Dan walking towards their table. Meng Xianwei was taken aback for a moment, he didn't think Cui Dan would come over to greet him. He couldn't help but glance at Tian Shaohua sitting next to him, knowing that the second son Tian Shaohua had a good family background. Was it because of some changes in his parents' work that they had connections with Cui Dan?

  But Meng Xianwei soon felt that it was impossible, after all, Tian Shao's family background was not bad, but only compared to ordinary people, and what about Cui Dan? Forget it. At least, he had seen cars with military license plates come to pick up Cui Dan, Tian Shao was clearly several levels lower.

  Then, Meng Xianwei suddenly remembered that the student union president Guo had told him a few days ago that she and Cui Dan shared the same hobby of photography and had chatted several times. She could help him deliver a love letter. At that time, he thought President Guo was joking, but...

  Meng Xianwei's thoughts came one after another, and he didn't dare to believe it at first, but now that he thought about it, it seemed that Cui Dan could only be running towards him.

  Just as Cui Dan smiled and came to their table, Meng Xuanwei hastily stood up, smiling and extending his hand: "Cui Dan, hello...". Before he finished speaking, the smile on his face froze. Because he suddenly discovered that Cui Dan's smile had always been directed at Bi Xiaoguang's friend from the countryside, and hadn't even glanced in his direction. Then, Meng Xuanwei also realized his own awkward situation, standing there with his hand still extended, unsure whether to put it down or leave it hanging.

  Cui Dan smiled and said to Lu Zhong: "Zhongzi brother, I thought I saw it wrong, but it's really you. How do you have so much free time to visit our school?"

  Lu Zhong looked at the girl with freckles in front of him, feeling a little strange. Indeed, she looked somewhat familiar, but he really couldn't remember who she was.

  Cui Dan seemed to know that Lu Zhong didn't recognize him, and smiled slyly: "You forgot, yesterday I just had dinner with you, think again, me, Xiao Na's cousin."

  The people around were stunned, the usually arrogant and domineering Cui Dan, actually smiled and introduced herself to someone who didn't even remember her, with a coquettish expression, was this still the same queen who had an overbearing attitude?

  What's going on? Weren't they having dinner together just yesterday? What is all this about?

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment before suddenly realizing that she was the niece of his second aunt. She had been at her second aunt's house for dinner last night, and his second uncle and second aunt had brought her along, but she had been sitting in the corner and he hadn't paid much attention to her.

  Although I'm also trying my best to blend in with the Lu family's life now, and not completely ignoring my cousins like before, this isn't something that can be accomplished overnight, it needs time, and for now, being able to recognize who's who is already good enough.

  As for Cui Dan, it was just because of family reasons that she came into contact with new things and dressed up. Saying she's beautiful is only in the eyes of students like Meng Xianwei and Bi Xiaoguang in the Peking University Social Science Department, where beauties are scarce, and even then, she can't compare to Lu Zheng's older sisters or his several female cousins. In Lu Zheng's eyes, she wasn't particularly talented either, so he didn't leave a deep impression on her.

  "Ah, Xiao Dan, hello." Lu Zhong finally stood up and shook hands with Cui Dan, unaware of the shock and dismay in Meng Xianwei's eyes as he saw Cui Dan's pale small hand being casually tainted by Lu Zhong.

  "Brother Zhēng, are these all your friends?" It was obvious that Cui Dan didn't even know Meng Xuanwei, the most famous one, and couldn't help but make Meng Xuanwei feel a bit deflated. He, who had just been feeling very embarrassed, sat back down in his seat again.

  Lu Zhong nodded and patted Bi Xiaoguang's shoulder, saying: "Xiaoguang is my childhood friend, we're in this together."

  Cui Dan smiled and extended her hand to Bi Xiaoguang, who blushed like a watermelon rind. He wiped his hands on his shorts several times before hesitantly extending them, and when he touched Cui Dan's smooth small hand, Bi Xiaoguang felt as if his soul had flown away. He didn't know what Cui Dan said to him, but he thought to himself that for this entire month, he wouldn't be able to wash his hands.

  Bi Xiaoguang looked at Lu Zhong again, and after the excitement, doubts gradually emerged. How did Zhongzi know Cui Dan? Moreover, it was obvious that Cui Dan, who was usually arrogant and domineering, was somewhat fawning on him.

  This childhood friend of mine has suddenly become a stranger at this moment.

  Cui Dan chatted with Lu Zhong for a while, and then said she wanted to invite Lu Zhong to dinner again. Until Lu Zhong smiled and agreed to go out with her and Xiao Na, who is Lu Zhong's cousin, tomorrow, Cui Dan reluctantly went upstairs with her companions.

  Meng Xianwei and Tian Shaohua both looked a bit off-color, hastily finishing two mouthfuls of food before excusing themselves to leave early.

  In the small restaurant, Bi Xiaoguang slowly stuffed buns into his mouth while smiling and saying to Lu Zhong: "Zhongzi, you really gave me face, from now on in the dormitory, no one will dare to look down on me." Although he came from a rural area, he didn't care about these things and wouldn't feel inferior. He had a broad mind, so he could naturally say such words. If it were someone with an inferiority complex, even if they knew everyone looked down on them, they wouldn't dare to say it out loud.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "The red dynamic chief of staff, who dares to look down on?"

  The two of them exchanged a smile, and the feeling from many years ago seemed to return once again.

  Bi Xiaoguang actually wanted to ask Lu Zhong what was going on with Cui Dan, but for some reason, he opened his mouth twice, and in the end, he didn't ask.